a top obama adviser dismissing romney's debate performance as, quote, masterful but fundamentally dishonest. >> mitt romney will say absolutely anything to get elected. >> reporter: and the administration's response to one of the latest job report. >> the economy is not doing well and the fact that you have a white house celebrating an unemployment rate of 7.8% with 23 million americans out of work or unemployed or underemployed tells you a lot about the failure of this administration's polici policies. >> reporter: romney has made a shift to sharing a more compassionate side, something he resisted, in three straight rallies recounting the memories of a 14-year-old he befriended with leukemia. >> he asked me a very difficult question, mitt, what's knock. he called me brother romney, what's next? david passed away, but i'll always remember and never forget his courage, his clear eyes, his full heart. david can't lose. i love the greatness of the soul of the american people. >> reporter: and this week's main event doesn't actually include the president or mitt romney. instead, it's the vice p